Uttarakhand: At least 11 missing trekkers dead, massive search operation by IAF underway
The team consisting of eight trekkers -- one from Delhi and the rest from West Bengal -- and three cooks went missing on a trek to Chitkul recently.
FollowAt least 11 trekkers out of 17 including tourists, porters and guides who had gone missing have been found dead taking the death toll to 11, while a massive rescue operation is underway by the Indian Air Force.
They had gone missing on a trek to Chitkul in Himachal Pradesh via Harsil in Uttarkashi.
Search and rescue teams from Uttarkashi spotted five bodies of trekkers on Thursday and had rescued two members of the team alive. They were injured and were being treated in Harsil and Uttarkashi, an official said.
Search and rescue teams from Uttarkashi spotted five bodies of trekkers on Thursday, while two members of the team were found dead by a rescue team in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarkashi district disaster management officer Devendra Patwal said.
The team consisting of eight trekkers -- one from Delhi and the rest from West Bengal -- and three cooks went missing on a trek to Chitkul recently.
Also read:Â Amit Shah on 3-day J&K visit today amid civilian killings; first visit since abrogation of Article 370
They had begun the trek from Harsil in Uttarkashi district on October 11 and were to reach Chitkul via Lamkhaga pass.
Lamkhaga Pass is considered one of the most treacherous passes connecting the Kinnaur district in Himachal Pradesh with Harsil in Uttarakhand.
According to reports, rescue team of the IAF along with the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel conducted a search operation at an altitude of 15,700 feet where four bodies were found. The rescue team also managed to find a survivor at an altitude of 16,800 feet who was unable to move.
Members of the trekking team included Anita Rawat (38) from Delhi, Mithun Dari (31) from West Bengal, Tanmay Tiwari (30), Vikash Makal (33), Saurav Ghosh (34), Saviayan Das (28), Richard Mandal (30) and Suken Manjhi (43), all from Kolkata. The cooking staff have been identified as Devendra (37), Gyan Chandra (33) and Upendra (32) all from Purola in Uttarkashi.
Heavy rain battered Uttarakhand for nearly three days, beginning Sunday night, with the Kumaon division bearing the brunt of it.
